The Gentle Touch: Teaching Kids How to Pet a Dog
Children and dogs can be playmates, partners in crime, and best friends, but children must learn appropriate, gentle, and safe behavior with dogs. Even the gentlest dog may lash out if a child causes the dog pain, fear, or anxiety. Behavioral issues are one of the main reasons dogs end up in shelters. That can include biting or growling because a child wasn’t taught about animal consent. To ensure a safe relationship between the two, here are some tips on teaching kids how to pet a dog gently and safely. Benefits of Growing up with a...
Adopting the Right Dog or Cat for You
Falling in love with a certain shelter dog or cat, and want to adopt him? That’s great — but first of all, find out if he’s the right fit for you and your lifestyle. When visiting an animal shelter or rescue facility, it can be very easy to fall in love with a particular dog or cat. Before filling out the adoption form, though, it’s important to determine if the animal you have your eye on is right for you. Adopting a dog or cat that isn’t a good match for your household, budget, or lifestyle can lead to problems...
Gut Health for Dogs: Support the Whole Body from the Belly!
The gut plays a vital role in immunity and overall health and well-being, and high-quality probiotics can help support gut health for dogs! All dog parents want their pups to live as long as possible, and it may surprise you to find out that by supporting gut health for dogs, you can also help promote longevity and health. Gut health plays a role in digestion and nutrient absorption, but it’s crucial for many other things as well. Immune health, allergies, emotional well-being, and physical health all start with the gut, so let’s...
Wild Alaska Pollock vs. Other Fish in Dog Food: What Sets It Apart?
Did you know that the BBC has ranked wild Alaska Pollock at #19 on its list of the World’s Most Nutritious foods? Bonus points for the fact that this fish is also an excellent addition to your dog’s diet. But what is it about this fish that sets it apart from the ocean’s other culinary contributions? And why should you be adding it to your dog’s dish today? When it comes to choosing the best ingredients for your dog’s food, fish is often a top contender courtesy of its excellent nutritional profile. But with an...
Do You Have a “Highly Sensitive Pet”?
If your dog or cat seems overreactive, anxious, or easily overwhelmed, she may be a “highly sensitive pet”. Here’s how to tell, and what you can do to help her navigate the world with less stress. Back in 1996, when Dr. Elaine Aron’s book, The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, was released, you could almost hear the collective sigh of relief. Her research resonated with people around the world who believed there was something wrong with them because they felt things too deeply or...
Support the Adrenal Glands with Adaptogenic Mushrooms!
The adrenal glands help to regulate critical body systems. They’re part of the endocrine system, so they play a role in managing the stress response in dogs and cats. For companion animals, stress can come from environmental factors, emotional triggers, physical activity, and trauma. Helping our dogs and cats to manage stress can help them live longer and healthier lives, so how can pet parents support the adrenal glands? With adaptogenic mushrooms, of course! The Role of the Adrenal Glands and Pituitary Gland The adrenal glands produce...
How to Support Your Dog or Cat’s Gut Health
Find out why supporting your dog or cat’s gut health is one of the most important things you can do for his overall well-being. Integrative and holistic practitioners have long understood that gut health is the foundation of whole-body health for people and their dogs and cats. Mainstream medicine now also recognizes that the health status of the GI tract truly affects everything else in the body. This is why supporting your dog or cat’s gut health is so important to his overall well-being. “ALL DISEASE STARTS IN THE...
The Step-by-Step Guide to Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth
Your dog may not like it very much. You may dread it. But brushing your dog’s teeth is incredibly important to their overall health. (Not to mention your olfactory nerves.) Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing exactly that, complete with some innovative canine tooth brushing tools designed to take the bite out of your dog’s dental care routine. Why Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth Matters You know that doggy dental care is important. Your vet has told you this. You’ve seen the flyers. You’ve done the Googling. And...
Quality of Life Expectations for Dogs with Idiopathic Epilepsy
Receiving a diagnosis of a lifelong disease for your beloved canine companion can be a daunting and emotionally challenging experience. Case in point: idiopathic epilepsy. Coping with this diagnosis – and helping your dog live healthily and happily with the condition – is, however, very doable with the right approach. An approach which involves understanding the condition, managing symptoms, and ensuring your dog’s quality of life. Understanding Idiopathic Epilepsy Idiopathic epilepsy (IE), often referred to simply as...
The Healing Power of Cold Laser Therapy for Dogs
“The power of light is always bigger than the power of darkness.” Maharishi Mahesh Yogi may not have been speaking about the photon light used in laser therapy here, but he might as well have been! With more than 8,000 clinical studies producing positive proof of its power to reduce pain and inflammation, and hasten healing, low-level cold laser therapy takes healing for pets to the next level. Read on for all the reasons cold laser therapy for dogs and cats might be your best friend’s new best friend. There is nothing quite...
